Trip to Longton / Hanley 12-12-2015

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
53209	Blurton, opp Ladybank Grove	Longton Interchange	22	First Potteries
MIB 797	Longton Interchange	Fenton, opp Albert Square	40	Copeland's Tours
53041	Fenton, adj Travers Court	Stoke-upon-Trent, adj stop P	23	First Potteries
67604	Stoke-upon-Trent, adj stop Q	Newcastle BS	2	First Potteries
37157	Newcastle BS	Burslem, Town Hall (stop G)	98	First Potteries
66849	Burslem, Wedgwood Street (Stop A)	Tunstall, adj stop M	3	First Potteries
66841	Tunstall, adj stop B	Hanley BS	3	First Potteries
32077	Hanley BS	Biddulph BS	7A	First Potteries
41500	Biddulph BS	Hanley BS	7A	First Potteries
65005	Hanley BS	Newcastle BS	4A	First Potteries

Today we decided to go on a local trip. The weather forecast for today was awful... Rain, rain and more rain! At least if we stay local we know where the bus stops have shelters. Also it was brought to our attention that it was the last running of the #40 with Copeland's Tours, Matthew got up just after 10:00 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. We set off to the bus stop around 11:45. Instead of going to Stoke via Trentham, today we were going to Longton to Have a ride on the #40 service, before continuing dpwn to Stoke from City Road. We set off to the stop on Beaconsfield Drive, and on the way we saw required First Potteries 41498 on the #23A to Hanley.

First Potteries 41498 in Blurton

Around the corner on Beaconsfield Drive we waited for the next #22 to Longton. The bus turned the corner out of Finstock Avenue and it was unusually a Solo. It was dud First Potteries 53209.

First Potteries 53209 in Blurton

We got on the bus and we tried to book a Smart Day ticket, but the driver didn't have any sleeves. We would have to get the ticket off the next bus. We sat down near to the back of the bus and the bus set off through Blurton. We passed dud First Potteries 41497 and at the end of Beaconsfield Drive we turned left onto Church Road. We passed under the old railway bridge and we continued onto Blurton Road. At the bottom of the hill we turned right onto Longton Hall Road. We climbed up the hill and we continued to the end before turning left onto the A50 high level. We went down to the roundabout and we crossed over the A50 and we ran into Longton Interchange along Baths Road. When we got into the Interchange we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of First Potteries 53209.

First Potteries 53209 in Longton Interchange

We had around 10 minutes to wait for the next run of the #40 service. Whilst we waited we saw D&G Solo 137 on the #31 service and First Potteries 63098 on the #6A service. We bumped into a neighbour and we discussed the fact that it was Copeland's Tours final day on the #40. If she hadn't got things to take home she would have joined us in traveling on the bus. We saw the bus approaching from the West and it came into the interchange... It was required Copeland's Tours MIB 797.

Copeland's Tours MIB 797 in Longton Interchange

We got on the bus and we booked a Smart Day ticket at £5.30. We could have traveled for free on the bus today, because as a gesture of good will Copeland's Tours weren't charging as a thank you to the customers over the years that they have been running this service. We wanted an Smart Day anyway, and it would be nice to think that we might have been issued the last one ever sold by Copeland's Tours. Before we sat down Matthew took a photo of the inside of Copeland's Tours MIB 797.

Inside Copeland's Tours MIB 797

The bus set off out of the interchange and we turned left onto Baths Road. We crossed over the A50 and we went straight onto Foley Road. At the end of the Road we turned right on Longton Hall Road. We climbed the hill and then went down into Blurton. we turned right onto Blurton Road and we climbed up the hill into Heron Cross. We crossed the A50 and at the traffic Light we turned left onto Grove Road. We continued into Mount Pleasant and onto Wheildon Road. We turned right by The Regent onto Smithpool Road and we crossed over the railway line. At City Road we turned right and we turned right again into Christchurch Street. We got up and got of the bus by Albert Square knowing it was unlikely that we would ever travel on another Copeland's Tours service bus. We took pictures of Copeland's Tours MIB 797 before it carried onto back towards Longton.

Copeland's Tours MIB 797 in Fenton

It was raining a little, so we decided to walk onto City Road to a bus stop with a shelter. We also had a greater choice of buses that we could catch down towards Stoke. We walked Along Christchurch Street passed the co-operative Food store and the laundrette, and we went passed the now closed Royal Oak pub. As we walked down City Road we saw dud D&G 195 on The Orange One service to Meir.

D&G 195 in Fenton

We sat down at the bus stop and almost immediately we saw a Solo turning the corner out of Christchurch Street. As we got closer we saw that it was required First Potteries 53041.

First Potteries 53041 in Fenton

We got on the bus and we flashed the strange looking Smart day ticket to the driver... He did raise an eyebrow, I think he thought we had printed off ourselves! At the same time we wrestle with Matthew who wanted to beep the horn. We sat down towards the back of the bus and the bus set off down City Road We continued onto the A52 and we went under the railway line. Crossing over the A500 we entered Stoke town centre along Church Street. We got up to get off the bus and Matthew managed to beep the horn as we got off. Matthew took another picture of First Potteries 53041 before it carried on towards Hanley.

First Potteries 53041 in Stoke

Once off the bus we walked a few yard up Church Street to the Stoke Cafe. Matthew went downstairs to the toilet with uncle Dave and I ordered the food. Matthew had a breakfast washed down with a can of orange Tango. Whilst we ate we saw new arrival required First Potteries 67602 on the #3 service towards Keele as well as required First Potteries double decker 32633 on a #3 towards Talke. Once we had finished eating we went onto Church Street and we considered catching dud D&G 184 which was unusually on the #9 to Clayton.

D&G 184 in Stoke

We walked to the main stop for Newcastle buses and we missed dud D&G 111 which was on The Orange One towards Newcastle. We also saw required First Potteries 41521 which was on a #23A to Hanley.

First Potteries 41521 in Stoke

There was a #2 service due in a few minutes. As the bus cam under the railway bridge we could see that it was an Enviro300 and we knew it was almost certainly going to be a required one. As it got closer we saw that it was required First Potteries 67604.

First Potteries 67604 in Stoke

We got on the bus and we flashed the Smart day ticket to the driver who didn't seemed as surprised as the last one at the orange ticket produced on the Copeland's Tours bus. We sat down towards the back of the bus and we set off along Church Street. As we climbed Hartshill Bank it was apparent at the power of these Enviro300 buses. If they all perform like this one, I can imagine these buses will be popular with the drivers as they seem much more equipped to take on the hills of North Staffordshire than the Volvo B7RLE's. We paused for a short while at the roadworks in Hartshill which seems to be having an effect all over North Staffordshire due to the inter-working of bus services. We carried on onto George Street and then down the hill into Newcastle. We turned left onto Barrack Road and we entered Newcastle bus station. We the bus pulled up onto the Stand we got waited for the bus to empty and Matthew took a picture inside First Potteries 67604.

Inside First Potteries 67604

Once off the bus we had a look around to see what we could catch. The first bus we saw was required First Potteries 32077 which was on a #99 service to Bradeley.

First Potteries 32077 in Newcastle bus station

We went over to possibly catch the double decker, but it pulled off before we got there. We then saw dud First Potteries 53120 on the #97 to the Wolstanton Retail park.

First Potteries 53120 in Newcastle bus station

A few minute later we saw dud First Potteries 37157 on the #98 to Ball Green.

First Potteries 37157 in Newcastle bus station

We decided to do this bus up to Burslem and to catch something else forwards to Tunstall so that Matthew could have some cheesecake! We got on the bus and we flashed the Smart day ticket to the driver before going upstairs. The upstairs was empty and so Matthew took a picture inside First Potteries 37157.

Inside First Potteries 37157

We set off out of the bus station and onto Barracks Road. We went over the roundabout onto the A527 and we we towards Wolstanton. As we traveled up we saw First Potteries 37156 on the #99 service and First Potteries 41540 on the #98 service both heading towards Newcastle. We turned right onto Porthill Bank and at the bottom we crossed over the A500. We went past the new Texaco garage and we headed up to Trubshaw Cross. We turned right onto Newcastle Street and we climbed the last 1/2 a mile or so into Burslem town centre where we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of First Potteries 37157 before it carried on towards Ball Green.

First Potteries 37157 in Burslem

We just missed a bus on the #3 towards Tunstall, and so as we walked across to the stop we knew we had a 10 minute wait. We stood in the shelter out of the rain and we waited patiently for the bus to appear in the distance a mile or so away in Cobridge. The bus appeared in the distance and it took a few minutes before it got us. As it got closer we saw that it was dud First Potteries 66849.

First Potteries 66849 in Burslem

We got on the bus and we flashed the Smart Day ticket to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off along Scotia Road and down the hill past the old bus depot before we turned left onto Williamson Street. We past the Asda store and we turned right into Tunstall High Street. At the top of the High Street we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew to a picture of First Potteries 66849 before it carried on towards Talke Pits.

First Potteries 66849 in Tunstall

We walked down to the Tunstall Cafe and uncle Dave took Matthew to the toilet and I ordered Matthews food. When he got back he had a slice of toffee cheesecake washed down with a glass of Coke. Once we had finished we said goodbye and we headed across the road to the bus stop outside Cool Trader. A few minutes later we saw dud First Potteries 41500 on a #99 to Newcastle.

First Potteries 41500 in Tunstall

We were considering catching this bus, put the driver was having some trouble opening and closing the doors. Whilst we waited for him to test the door, dud First Potteries 66841 pulled up behind on a #3 to Keele.

First Potteries 66841 in Tunstall

We got on the bus and we flashed the Smart day ticket to the driver. We sat down in the middle of the bus as there was some kid sat on one seats her there legs over the seat in front looking very menacing, playing urban music from some kind of music playing device. We set off down the High Street and then left onto Williamson Street. The kid and the kids mother spent moist of the time shouting backwards and forwards to each other as the mother was sat down at the front of the bus. We went up Scotia Road and into Burslem before continuing into Cobridge along Waterloo Road. We passed through Cobridge light and and we entered Hanley up Hope Street. I felt like tell the mother that she must be soooo proud of her daughter, but I kept my mouth shut as they both looked rough as ~*!#. Thankfully they got off on Stafford Street by the shopping centre. We continued towards the town Hall and we entered the bus station via Bagnall Street and Lidice Way. Once in the bus station Matthew visited the toilet before we set off on foot up the the John Street car park to take a few bus pictures. Once in the car park we saw required First Potteries 42552 on layover in the bus station between #21 services.

First Potteries 42552 in Hanley bus station

The weather was really poor and the light was fading even though it was only just gone 15:00... We decided not to stop in the car park park for too long. Running out of service was one of the last half a dozen or so early Scanias left in the fleet, First Potteries 60174.

First Potteries 60174 in Hanley bus station

Matthew ate a galaxy caramel and then we set off back to the bus station. as we got back to the bus station we noticed a double decker on the stand outside the bus station. It was dud First Potteries 32053 on a #1 to Longton.

First Potteries 32053 in Hanley bus station

We visited the shop and as we entered we saw First Potteries 32080 on a #32 to Uttoxeter. Inside the shop Matthew had a bottle of Irn Bru and a can of Coke as well as a couple of chocolate bars. We paid for the goods and Matthew said hello to the cashier and we went outside into the bus station. We considered doing First Potteries 32080 and then we looked it up on the 'buses I have traveled on' page and realised it was a dud one. We had been on it two weeks ago from Hanley to Longton on the #6A service. We let the dud double decker go and Matthew sat and ate a Toffee Crisps bar. We then saw required First Potteries 32077 come into the bus station on a #7A to Biddulph. It left immediately and went over to one of the layover spaces. We checked when the next #7A was due and it was in around 10 minutes. We walked down to the appropriate stand and we waited for the bus to return to us. As the time came for the bus to depart, First Potteries 32077 came forwards to load up.

First Potteries 32077 in Hanley bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the Smart day ticket to the driver before going upstairs. The rear of the top deck was empty so Matthew took a picture inside First Potteries 32077.

Inside First Potteries 32077

Along side us was First Potteries #18 branded Scania 65005 on the #3 to Talke. The bus set off out of the bus station and we went down John Street onto Bethesda Street. We crossed over Broad Street onto Marsh Street and we turned right onto Tontime Street before turning left onto Stafford Street. We loaded up with a few more passengers and we went under the Intu Potteries bridge up Quadrant Road before crossing the ring road and heading out of Hanley through Townsend. We traveled through Sneyd Green and over Smallthorne roundabouts onto high Lane. At the end of High lane we turned right onto the A527. We ran down past Fegg Hayes and we climbed the hill through Brindley Ford. We turned left near to the Bakers Coaches garage and we went through Brown Lees. At Knypersley we crossed over the A527 and we went thtough the housing estate, passing the Barley Mow pub. We come into Biddulph town centre along Princess Street and Well Street and we turn right into High Street. To get to the bus station we turned left onto South View and right onto Wharf Road. We got off the bus and it was now fully dark and raining hard. We walk past the main shelter and around the corner to the toilet. After Matthew had used the facilities we walk up to the shelter at the top, but the rain was coming sideways up Wharf Road and it didn't offer much shelter. Matthew took us around the corner and we spotted a cash machine which was handy as I needed one. It was also more sheltered than the stop around the corner. After we got some money out we saw required D&G 157 on a 'Nines' service to Newcastle.

D&G 157 in Biddulph bus station

Matthew didn't want to do this bus, he wanted to wait for the next #7A service. The D&G bus was one we had seen but not traveled on in Accrington back in April 2014, when it used to be 263 in the Transdev Lancashire United fleet. There was a #7A due a few minutes after the Nines service had departed, sow e stood in the shelter and Matthew ate a bag of Milky Stars and drank a bottle of Irn Bru. A few minutes later we saw a Caetano Dart turn the corner out of South View. As it got closer we saw that it was dud First Potteries 41500.

First Potteries 41500 in Biddulph bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the Smart day ticket to the driver. We sat down towards the back and the bus set off out of Wharf Road onto the High Street. This was a bus that used to be allocated to Newcastle, and we first had it before that on a snowy day in January 2013 from Birches Head to Hanley. We turned left into Well Street and we headed through the housing estates of Biddulph and Knypersley. Having crossed the A527 we traveled through Brown Lees only to join the A527 a mile or so further South. When we got to the bottom of the hill near to Fegg Hayes the bus emptied out in front of us and Matthew took a picture inside First Potteries 41500.

Inside First Potteries 41500

the bus carried on up the hill to and we turned left onto High Lane. As we approached Smallthorne we got caught in some traffic. We saw two white unidentified coaches going the other way. It was traffic from the Port vale vs Scunthorpe match which had finished around 30 minutes previously. Once past the Smallthorne roundabout we moved quite quickly into Hanley. We went into town down Quadrant Road and Stafford Street. We passed the town hall and we entered the bus station via Bagnall Street and Lidice Way. When we got to the bus station we wanted to get the first bus that we could to Newcastle. There was a #17 to Newcastle via Bradwell but that service take close to an hour. We wanted a #4. #4A or #10 to get to Newcastle in less than 30 minutes. The was and #4A due, and when it pulled on stand we saw that it was required First Potteries 65005.

First Potteries 65005 in Hanley bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the Smart day ticket to the driver for the last time today. we sat down towards the back of the bus which was quite full by the time we got on it. The bus set off down John Street and onto Bethesda Street. We crossed Broad Street onto marsh Street and we turned left onto Etruria Road. After crossing under the A53 we went forwards onto Festival way. We turned left onto forge lane and we headed back under the A53 and came up on the Westbound side. At Etruria roundabout we saw an unidentified Steve Aikens coach coming off the A500. We climbed up the hill through Basford and then we went down into Newcastle via the one way system. We turned left onto Barracks Road and we went into the bus station. The bus didn't empty out as it was a through bus and Matthew didn't get a picture inside First Potteries 65005. It was still raining when we got off the bus so we didn't want to hang around too much tonight. Across the way we saw First Potteries 41501.

First Potteries 41501 in Newcastle bus station

Matthew visited the toilet and we walked around the corner to where mum usually picks us up. We didn't have to wait long before mum turned up. We got in the car and Matthew ate his sausage roll washed down with a can of Vimto. We did a U turn on the Jubilee roundabout and we went South on the A34 down past the hospital and into Trent Vale. We stopped at the Riverside Chippy for some chips and we continued down to the A500. We went North up to Sideway and then Eastwards on the A50. We came off the A50 at Longton so that we could see what was parked up at Z Carz this evening. There were a couple of car park in front of the buses this evening. The nearest bus on the front row was Z Carz minibus BU04 GYW.

Z Carz BU04 GYW in Longton

Closest bus on the second row was Z Carz Mercedes minibus M372 NWN.

Z Carz M372 NWN in Longton

At the back of the site we could see Z Carz Mercedes minibus S952 VMY.

Z Carz S952 VMY in Longton

We turned into Willow Row to see if there were any buses in the compound. The only buses there were parked at the very back and not photograph-able. we got back onto the A50 and we went West to Heron Cross. We turned left onto Blurton Road and forwards onto Church Road. We turned right into Beaconsfield Drive and we got home around 18:30. For a late tea Matthew had bangers and mash with carrots followed by a jam filled shortcake biscuit. Matthew then chilled out on his computer until bedtime around 00:30... Mark